Galyat became the main tourist destination in Pakistan in 2023
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Department has released its annual report on tourist arrivals in 2023. It released impressive figures and highlighted the province's growing appeal to domestic and international tourists.
The full data was collected under the supervision of the World Bank's 1422 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Integrated Tourism Centers (KITE) Project. Between January 1 and December 26, 2023, 16,988,946 tourists visited various parts of the province. It is noteworthy that the number of foreign tourists who visited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reached 4,554, which emphasizes the growing global recognition of the province as a travel destination. This is stated in the material of dailytimes.com.pk.
The report of the Department of Tourism states that Galyat became the main attraction in 2023: more than 6.34 million tourists visited it for sightseeing and entertainment. Naran Kaghan Valley and Malam Jabba also attracted significant crowds, welcoming 5.08 million and 3.54 million travellers.
Additionally, Upper and Lower Dir experienced a combined influx of 1,380,740 tourists seeking to explore the region's scenic beauty. Lower Chitral recorded 591,330 tourists, while Upper Chitral received 38,771 visitors during the year.
The foreign tourists that arrived painted a diverse picture, with Lower Chitral leading the way, receiving 1,624 foreign tourists. Upper Chitral received 791 foreign visitors, Dir (Upper and Lower) recorded 417, Swat Valley saw 237, Malam Jabba attracted 588, and Naran Kaghan Valley witnessed 897 foreign tourists.
These impressive numbers highlight the rich tapestry of attractions that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa offers as domestic and international travellers continue to show increased interest in exploring the province's breathtaking landscapes and cultural heritage.